ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Defence
India’s knowledge tradition professes the principles of liberty, fraternity & world peace, says Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh
Indian knowledge tradition is one of the oldest in the world and it professes the principles of liberty, equality, fraternity, and world peace. This was stated by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh while delivering a lecture on ‘Indian Knowledge Tradition and Best Life Values laid down in Vedas’ organised at Delhi University on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati on September 05, 2023.
Shri Rajnath Singh underlined the fact that the Vedas contain solutions to many challenges faced by the world, including climate change. He pointed out that the Vedas emphasise worshiping nature and practices such as environment conservation and afforestation. “The most prominent aspect of Vedas is its longevity, i.e., it is Sanatan, however, there is a section which is attacking Vedas and its values. Such efforts can prove to be futile,” he said.
Mentioning that democracy is often considered a system of governance given to the world by the West, the Raksha Mantri stressed that the roots of democratic values are found in the Vedic period, where representative systems like ‘Sabha’ and ‘Samiti’ existed.
Shri Rajnath Singh added that the Vedic period was the period of women's empowerment as women enjoyed the same rights as men. There are many examples of such women from the Vedic period who have contributed to the Indian knowledge tradition, he added.
Underscoring the strength of Indian culture, the Raksha Mantri said, “Throughout history, our culture has thrived with pride despite numerous attacks. The reason lies in Vedic values and the ancient knowledge tradition it is based upon.”
Shri Rajnath Singh also spoke about the contribution of Swami Dayanand Saraswati in the social awakening of people during the British colonial period. He stated that Swami Dayanand Saraswatiji contributed immensely in bringing about India’s renaissance through Arya Samaj and his clarion call to ‘Return to Vedas’.
The Raksha Mantri also remembered former President of India Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan on his birth anniversary, which is being celebrated as Teacher’s Day today. Shri Rajnath Singh said, that apart from politics, Dr. Radhakrishnan made a significant contribution to the field of education and philosophy. “Today is the day to pay tribute to his scholarship, his philosophical contributions, and his achievements for the nation,” he said.
Prime Minister's Office
PM addresses India-Australia Circular Economy Hackathon 
Circular Economy can be a key step in addressing the ecological strain on our planet: PM
Strong India-Australia partnership will play an important role in shaping the post-COVID world: PM
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has said that there is a need to look at our consumption patterns, and how we can reduce their ecological impact. He said Circular Economy can be a key step in solving many of our challenges in this regard. He was addressing the valedictory function of India-Australia Circular Economy Hackathon today via video conference.
The Prime Minister said recycling and reusing things, eliminating waste, and improving resource efficiency must become part of our lifestyles. He expressed the hope that innovations showcased at the hackathon will inspire the two countries to take the lead in circular economy solutions. He also asked to find ways to scale-up and incubate these ideas. “We must never forget, that we are not the owners of all that Mother Earth has to offer, but merely its trustees for all the future generations to come”, the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said the energy and enthusiasm of today’s youthful participants in the hackathon is a symbol of the forward-looking partnership between India and Australia. “The strong India-Australia partnership will play an important role in shaping the post-COVID world.And our youth, our young innovators, our startups, will be at the forefront of this partnership” concluded the Prime Minister.
Ministry of Finance
Income Tax Department conducts searches in Karnataka
The Income Tax Department conducted search on 9th October 2019 on a prominent business group in Karnataka which runs multiple educational institutions. During the course of the search, the modus operandi of conversion of seats which were originally to be allotted by merit through counselling by MCC maliciously into institutional quota seats through dropout system has been unearthed.
Incriminating evidence has been found in the search, substantiating conversion of seats, commission payments to brokers and sale of seats in exchange of receipt of cash. Evidences of use of multiple agents for conversion of MBBS and PG seats have also been found. Diversion of funds in the form of payment of on-money for the purpose of purchase of immovable assets for the benefit of trustees has also been established including finding of cash in possession of seller, commission in the hands of broker and strong written and audio evidences found in possession of the concerned parties. Evidences of handling of such cash generated, diversion for construction of hotels have also been found. Hawala transactions relating to movement of such cash have also been established. A total of Rs.4.22 crore of unaccounted cash has so far been found including Rs.89 lakh in the house of the main trustee.
Certain students whose names were used in conversion of seats have made statements establishing the modus operandi. Agents have admitted to have aided in sale of seats, brokers have admitted to be witness and accomplice to diversion of such cash generated.
Modus operandi of making cash deposits in the accounts of certain employees & their families and diversion of them to fixed deposits which are used to services loans taken by trustees has been unearthed. Evidence has further brought to light the fact that trustees have opened bank accounts in the names of their employees to deposit some of the capitation fee received in cash. Fixed deposits amounting to Rs. 4.6 crore in the names of 8 employees made in the above manner have been seized. It was further found that the interest from such benami fixed deposits have been used to service the loans taken by the trustees in their personal capacity.
Evidences also reveal undisclosed investments in real estate. Overall the total undisclosed income detected so far is around Rs.100 crore considering the cash donations received for 185 seats averaging Rs.50 lakh to Rs.65 lakh per seat and total seizure of undisclosed assets of Rs. 8.82 crore. Further investigations are in progress.
Prime Minister's Office
PM expresses happiness over India’s spectacular climb of 16 places in World Bank’s Logistic Performance Index
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed his happiness over over India’s spectacular climb of 16 places in World Bank’s Logistic Performance Index.
Replying to the tweet by Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, the Prime Minister tweeted;
“An encouraging trend, powered by our reforms and focus on improving logistics infrastructure. These gains will reduce costs and make our businesses more competitive.”
Ministry of Power
POWERGRID posts Profit After Tax  of ₹3,117 crore for Q2FY21
Total Income rises by 8% to ₹ 9,890 crore
Power Grid Corporation of India Limited , a ‘Maharatna’ Company under Ministry of Power, GoI and the ‘Central Transmission Utility ’ of the country, has posted a PAT of ₹ 3,094 crore and Total Income of ₹ 9,831 crore on consolidated basis for Q2FY21. On standalone basis, the Company posted PAT and Total Income of ₹ 3,117 crore and ₹ 9,890 crore respectively for Q2FY21, registering an increase of about 23% & 8% respectively with respect to the corresponding period of FY20.
For six-month period , the PAT and Total Income on consolidated basis are ₹ 5,142 crore and ₹ 19,648 crore respectively, which are about 1% and 6% higher with respect to the corresponding period of FY20, while on standalone basis, the PAT and Total Income are ₹ 5,097 crore and ₹ 19,511 crore respectively, registering a growth of 3% and 6% respectively.
The Company incurred a Capital Expenditure of about ₹ 3,100 crore and capitalized assets worth ₹ 10,693 crore  on consolidated basis during Q2FY21.
During the quarter, POWERGRID commissioned Pole-1 of Bipole-I of the prestigious 6000 MW Raigarh – Pugalur HVDC system despite many challenges and lockdown restrictions encountered during COVID-19 pandemic alongwiththe 1765 km long ±800 kV Raigarh - Pugalur HVDC transmission line traversing through five states, 400 kV D/c Pugalur – Arasur and 400 kV D/c Pugalur – Pugalur transmission lines. The commissioned elements will facilitate power flow of 1500 MW from Western Region to Southern Region ensuring reliable and quality power supply.
Other major assets commissioned during the quarter are, 400 kV D/C NNTPS – Ariyalur TL, 400 kV D/C Banaskantha – Radhanesda TL and ICTs at Gorakhpur, Bhuj, Radhanesda, Raigarh and Pugalur substations of POWERGRID.
POWERGRID’s physical assets along with its subsidiaries at the end of H1FY21, stood at 168,140 ckm of transmission lines, 252 substations and more than 419,800 MVA of transformation capacity.
With the adoption of latest technological tools and techniques, enhanced use of automation and digital solutions, POWERGRID maintained average transmission system availability of 99.83% during H1FY21.
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Ministry of Information & Broadcasting
15 films lined up for International Competition at 52nd IFFI in Goa
Godavari, Me Vasantrao and Semkhor- Indian entries in the International Competition
52nd International Film Festival of India has released the line-up of international movies for competition during the festival. The best of the feature length fiction films from all over the world are selected to compete in the section. It is one of the most important sections of the festival that features some of the best films of the year and these 15 films compete for the Golden Peacock and other awards.
The movies that are part of the lineup include
- Any Day Now | Dir : Hamy Ramezan | Finland
- Charlotte | Dir : Simon Franco | Paraguay
- Godavari | Dir: Nikhil Mahajan | Marathi, India
- Întregalde | Dir : Radu Muntean |Romania
- Land of Dreams | Dir : Shirin Neshat & Shoja Azari | New Mexico, USA
- Leader | Dir : Katia Priwieziencew | Poland
- Me Vasantrao | Dir: Nipun Avinash Dharmadhikari | Marathi, India
- Moscow Does Not Happen | Dir : Dmitry Fedorov | Russia
- No Ground Beneath The Feet| Dir : Mohammad Rabby Mridha | Bangladesh
- Once We Were Good For You | Dir : Branko Schmidt | Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Ring Wandering | Dir : Masakazu Kaneko | Japan
- Saving One Who Was Dead | Dir : Václav Kadrnka | Czech Republic
- Semkhor | Dir: Aimee Baruah | Dimasa, India
- The Dorm | Dir : Roman Vasyanov | Russia
- The First Fallen | Dir : Rodrigo de Oliveira |Brazil
These films will compete for various categories of awards, viz:
- Best Film  – this award carries a cash prize of Rs. 40,00,000/- to be shared equally between the Director and Producer. The Director will receive the Golden Peacock and a Certificate in addition to the cash component. The Producer will receive a Certificate in addition to the cash component.
- Best Director: Silver Peacock, Certificate and a cash prize of Rs.15,00,000/-
- Best Actor : Silver Peacock, Certificate and a cash prize of Rs10,00,000/-
- Best Actor : Silver Peacock, Certificate and a cash prize of Rs10,00,000/-
- Special Jury Award: Silver Peacock, Certificate and a cash prize of Rs 15,00,000/- given to a film  or an individual . The award, if given to a film, will be given to the Director of the film.
The Jury for the International Competition for 52nd IFFI comprises of
- Ms. RakhshānBanietemad  | Iran | Filmmaker- Jury Chairperson
- Mr. Stephen Woolley  | UK | Film Producer, Director
- Mr. Ciro Guerra  | Columbia | Filmmaker
- Mr. VimukthiJayasundara  | Srilanka | Filmmaker
- Mr. Nila Madhab Panda  | India | Filmmaker
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Dr. Jitendra Singh commends the yeomen services rendered by Civil Servants in India’s fight against COVID-19 on Civil Services Day
Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Dr. Jitendra Singh has commended the yeomen services rendered by Civil Servants in India’s fight against COVID-19 to mark the Civil Services Day 2020 here today through a nation-wide interactive video calling with 25 States and 5 UTs. Calling for greater inter-service camaraderie, citing the successful example of the CARUNA platform which brings together 29 service associations in an endeavour to support natural disasters, Dr. Singh complemented the civil servants for their support to Government’s COVID 19 relief operations by offering one day salary to the Prime Minister’s Cares Fund. He said that District Collectors have been leading the fight against the COVID 19 pandemic and India’s prospects to contain the pandemic rested on the broad shoulders of civil servants.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said that “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance” has been the motto of the Modi Government. In the past 6 years the Nation has witnessed significant civil service reforms in reorganizing and rightsizing of Government institutions, recruitment reforms like lateral entry at Joint Secretary level, improved delivery of public services with emphasis on providing e-Services, as also several initiatives with the citizen at the centre.
The publication of the Good Governance Index and the National e-Services Delivery Assessment in 2019 represented India’s endeavour to bring its civil service on par with global best practices. India’s governance model has been widely recognized as promoting meritocracy and constitutional values.
Dr. Jitendra Singh said that the comprehensive revamping of the Public Grievances Redressal System was undertaken from September 2019 and this has improved the quality of grievance redressal and reduced the timelines of disposal of grievances. In this regard, he was happy to note that 25,000 COVID 19 Public Grievances were redressed on the National Monitor for COVID 19 Public Grievances  in a span of 20 days from April 1 – 20, 2020 with an average disposal time of 1.57 days/ grievance.
The Civil Services Day events to be held on 21 April 2020, have been deferred due to announcement of National Lockdown, following the global outbreak of COVID 19 pandemic. The Prime Minister’s Awards for Excellence in Public Administration 2019 and 2020 will now be presented on October 31, 2020 to mark the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhai Patel.
Dr Jitendra Singh also expressed satisfaction that so far more than 1,44,736 persons have enrolled at the DoPT’se-learning platform  to combat COVID, which was launched on 8th of this Month and about 96,268 candidates completed the course.
It is also pertinent to mention here that civil servants for their support to Government’s COVID 19 relief operations in various Ministries of the Central Government have contributed more than Rs 4227 Crore to the PM CARES FUND so far by offering one day salary and through CSR contributions.
Ministry of Mines
36th International Geological Congress to be held in New Delhi
Globally Renowned Geoscientists to Participate in Three Day Congress
The 36th International Geological Congress , themed “Geosciences: The Basic Science for a Sustainable Future” will be held here during 20-22 March, 2022 on a virtual platform.
The 36th IGC is a joint endeavour of the Ministry of Mines, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Indian National Science Academy and the Science Academies of Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Described as the Olympics of Geosciences, the IGCs are held quadrennial, under the aegis of the International Union of Geological Congress , the Scientific Sponsor of the IGCs. They draw participants to the tune of around 5000 - 7000 delegates from all over the world.
The event would provide a unique platform for knowledge and experience sharing in the field of geosciences and professional networking. It would give first-hand information on latest technologies in mining, mineral exploration and management of water, mineral resource and environment. It would also facilitate increased academic production and create opportunities for capacity building across geoscientific streams.
The Congress is slated to be inaugurated by Union Minister of Coal, Mines & Parliamentary Affairs Shri Pralhad Joshi and Minister of State  Science & Technology; Minister of State  Earth Sciences; MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space Dr Jitendra Singh in the presence of Minister of State for Coal, Mines & Railways Shri Raosaheb Patil Danve and Minster of State for Communications Shri Devusinh Chauhan.
The entire world, today, is concerned about its sustainability. Since Geoscience can play a crucial role in addressing it, the 36th IGC has been themed as “Geoscience - the Basic Science for a Sustainable Future”. The scientific programme will reflect on how Geosciences are integrally related to a sustainable future, touching various aspects of life. The talks will also highlight the complex interactions of various phenomena that regulate the Earth processes and their symbiosis with the biosphere, by focusing on emerging paradigms in the realm of geosciences in the context of sustainable development.
India, leading its regional partners had bid in the 34th International Geological Congress at Brisbane in 2012 to host the 36th IGC in India in the year 2020. India won the bid. The present Congress originally scheduled to be held during 2-8 March, 2020 was postponed due to Covid Pandemic.
36th IGC will be releasing three commemorative Postage Stamps on the occasion along with the First Day Cover. 58 years ago India had hosted the 22nd session of the IGC which was the first IGC on the Asian soil.
Prime Minister's Office
PM to chair 6th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog on 20th February
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will chair the sixth meeting of the Governing Council of NITI Aayog on 20th February 2021 at 10:30 AM via video conferencing. The agenda of the meeting includes deliberations on agriculture, infrastructure, manufacturing, human resource development, service delivery at grassroots level and health & nutrition.
The Governing Council presents a platform to discuss inter-sectoral, inter-departmental and federal issues. It comprises the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers of States and Union Territories , with Legislatures and Lt Governors of other UTs. The sixth meeting will witness the entry of Ladakh for the first time, in addition to the participation of Jammu and Kashmir as a UT. This time, other UTs headed by administrators have also been invited to join. The meeting will also be attended by the ex-officio members of the Governing Council, Union Ministers, Vice Chairman, Members and CEO of NITI Aayog, and other senior officials of Government of India.
Ministry of Steel
NMDC, Ministry of Steel assists NINL to start iron ore mining
NMDC under Ministry of Steel, has stepped in to provide technical and financial assistance to Neelachal Ispat Nigam Limited  for resumption of their mining operations in Odisha. The operations of NINL iron ore mines at Mithirda mine block have resumed.
Under the aegis of the Ministry of Steel, Ministry of Commerce and DIPAM, NINL approached NMDC for support. To provide impetus to the supply of high grade iron ore in the state of Odisha, NMDC signed a MoU to extend assistance to NINL.
NINL, a Joint Venture Company of MMTC, IPICOL, OMC, NMDC and others set up a 1.1 MTPA Integrated Steel Plant at Dubri, Jajpur in Odisha. The company acquired the mining lease for captive production of iron ore in January 2017. NINL received permission for merchant sale of iron ore for one million ton per year for two years to augment the iron ore production in the state and meet the expenses of the company.
Ministry of Labour & Employment
Union Labour Minister inspected the upgraded Covid related medical facilities at ESIC Medical College & Hospital, Alwar
Shri Santosh Kumar Gangwar, Union Minister of State  for Labour & Employment, Govt. of India visited Alwar  today i.e. on 20.05.2021 and inspected the upgraded Covid related medical facilities at ESIC Medical College & Hospital, Alwar. During his visit, he inspected and reviewed all the facilities being made available during Covid-19 including ICUs and HDUs beds, Mobile X-ray with D.R. & ABG Machine, pharmacy, etc. He also formally started free shuttle bus service for patients, as this hospital is far from City.
The Minister praised the various facilities being provided to Insured Persons  and Non-IPs by ESIC Medical College & Hospital, Alwar viz. OPD and IPD Services in various streams and super specialty services like Cardiology, Urology, Paediatric Surgery and Oncology. He was also apprised about the progress for installation of CT-Scan and MRI facility along with Oxygen Plant at the Hospital.
At present, this hospital is functional as Covid and Non-Covid hospital  being provided on 100 beds . Now ESICMCH, Alwar Covid related facilities have been upgraded for total of 200 Covid beds  Portable X-Ray machine and Arterial Blood Gas analyzer machine has also been recently installed here. The medical facilities at ESIC Medical College & Hospital, Alwar are open for general public along with the beneficiaries of ESI Scheme.
The other dignitaries to accompany Union Minister were Shri Tikaram Jully, Labour Minister, Govt. Of Rajasthan, Mahant Balaknath Yogi, MP Alwar, Sh. Sanjay Sharma, MLA Alwar City, Dr. R K Kataria , Medical Commissioner, ESIC, Shri N M Pahadiya, DM, Alwar, Dr. Asim Das, Dean, ESIC MCH Faridabad, Shri AK Rawat, RD Rajasthan, Dr. Harnam kaur Dean ESICMCH Alwar and DR. Vivek Tiwari, Medical Superintendent, ESICMCH Alwar.